When I began my coaching career right out of college, I took my first job in part because of the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the "Run N Shoot." I can honestly say that that single year I spent there impacted me, from a learning standpoint, as much as any time in my football life. I was already well-versed in the "West Coast" or "Pro Style" way of doing things (I really hate those labels!), but the 'Shoot literally changed the way I looked at throwing the football to this day.As I re-configure (as described in my previous posts) the METHOD in which the offense is delivered, I am, time and again, brought back to the fundamental reasons I *loved* the run and shoot offense to begin with:

- An economy of concepts- Efficient teaching- Having an answer to the defense you are confronted with ON THAT PLAY, not the next play, when the defense has a chance to adjust- Balance, in the true sense of what it should be offensivelyFrom my first coaching stop, no matter what the presentation (the presence of TE/ H-Back/ Fullbacks, multiple shifting and formations), the foundation, principles of attack, and route structures -- all had it's roots springing from the Run 'N Shoot. There was, admittedly, the real danger of being considered for jobs in declaring my passing game to be "Run and Shoot" -- so I described my offense as a "multiple offense that blends quick-rhythm passing with the ability to adjust to coverages" -- I smirk as I type this now. :)

As I go back through all the film and notes I've gathered from clients, study material from various offenses across the country, and update my teaching materials (such as the PowerPoint slides above), I inevitably come back to the notion that the Run and Shoot provides some of the simplest, most effective, and easiest to learn methods for attacking defenses.

Many of the bedrock principles in the passing game I have used are rooted in the Run and Shoot; I'm going to spend the next few entries talking about my system, give a little historical background, and hopefully develop conversations discussing this and other sytems.Until then -- enjoy this clip of June Jones covering 60 Z GO....HAPPY THANKSGIVING!